NCARNATION 


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INCARNATION. 


BY 

ROLLIN  H.  NEALE, 

PABToa   or   riasT   baptist    chobch,    bobiom. 


BOSTON; 
GOULD,  KEXDALL  &,  LDsCOLN, 

59    WASHINGTON    STREET. 

1849. 


o o 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year 
1849,  by  Gould,  Kendall  &  Lincoln,  iu  the 
Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District 
of  Massachusetts. 


BOSTON  : 

Printed  by  C.  C.  P.  Moody, 

52  Washington  Street. 


o- 


o o 


LETTER 


Rev.  R.  H.  Neale, 

Dear  Brother :  —  It  gives  me  great  pleas- 
ure to  communicate  to  you  the  following 
vote  of  the  Boston  North  Baptist  Asso- 
ciation, in  reference  to  the  Sermon  preached 
by  yourself  before  that  body,  at  its  recent  ses- 
sion in  Framingham. 

^^  Voted,  That  the  author  of  the  Sermon 
preached  at  the  opening  of  this  Anniversary 
Meeting,  be  requested  to  give  it  to  the  public 
in  such  form  as  he  may  deem  advisable." 

Allow  me,  dear  brother,  as  an  individual, 
to  express  to  you  my  strong  desire,  that  you 
may  see  fit  to  comply  with  the  request  con- 
tained in  this  action  of  the  Association.    I 


o- 


■o 


am  induced  to  do  so,  because  of  my  firm  con- 
viction, that,  by  yielding  to  the  wishes  of 
your  brethren,  you  will  subserve  the  inter- 
ests of  truth  and  piety.  The  views  contained 
in  your  Discourse  seem  to  mc  specially  adapt- 
ed to  the  times  in  which  we  live,  —  times  in 
which  error  stalks  abroad  in  protean  shapes, 
diverting  men  from  the  simplicity  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  "  spoiling  them  through  philosophy 
and  vain  deceit,  after  the  tradition  of  men, 
aft€r  the  rudiments  of  the  world,  and  not 
after  Christ."  By  appealing  to  the  Scrip- 
tures alo7ie,  as  authority,  I  am  satisfied  that 
you  take  the  only  safe  and  tenable  ground 
that  can  be  occupied.  Making  them  "  tlie 
judge  that  ends  the  strife,"  you  place  the 
great  mysterious  doctrine  of  the  Divine  In- 
carnation in  its  proper  position,  not  as  a  sub- 
ject for  the  speculations  of  philosophy,  but 
as  an  object  of  implicit,  child-like  Faith. 

The  view  you  presented  also  appears  to 
me  peculiarly  calculated  to  relieve  and  com- 
fort the  minds  of  Christians.  That  difficul- 
ties often  perplex  the  children  of  God,  you 


o- 


o- 


•well  know,  my  dear  brother,  from  the  expe- 
rience and  observation  which  your  station, 
as  a  watchman  upon  the  walls  of  Zion,  has 
furnished  you.  Your  Sermon  seemed  to  me, 
as  I  listened  to  it,  to  show  with  great  clear- 
ness the  fact,  that  the  trials  and  distressing 
doubts  which  the  disciples  of  the  Saviour 
often  have,  on  this  and  kindred  subjects, 
were  anticipated  and  provided  for  by  the 
Holy  Spirit;  and  that  in  consequence  of 
them,  or  of  temptations  which  they  present, 
a  caution  was  urged  against  the  seductions 
of  human  reason,  in  a  province  where  Faith 
should  reign  without  a  rival.  And  in  my 
judgment,  a  mind  thus  troubled  would  be 
dra\vn  from  a  situation  of  distress  and  dan- 
ger, and  would  be  comforted  and  established 
in  the  truth,  if  it  heartily  embraced  the  views 
contained  in  your  Discourse. 

I  speak  the  more  confidently,  knowing,  as 
I  do,  that  my  opinions  touching  your  Sermon 
meet  the  concurrence  of  brethren  whose 
judgment  is  superior  to  my  own.  The  action 
of  the  Association  was  not  designed  as  a 
O O 


o ~o 


mere  compliment,  but  as  an  ingenuous  ex- 
pression of  opinion  as  to  the  adaptation  of 
your  Discourse  to  usefulness. 

Excuse  me,  my  dear  brother,  for  occupy- 
ing so  much  of  your  time  and  patience,  by 
obtruding  personal  wishes  upon  your  atten- 
tion, while  communicating  to  you  the  action 
of  the  Association.  And  permit  me  to  hope, 
that  you  will  comply  with  this  strongly  ex- 
pressed, and  sincere  desire  of  the  body. 
Your  brother  in  Christ, 

William  C.  Child, 
Clerk  of  the  Boston  North  Bap.  Association. 


Charlestown,  Oct.,  1849. 


THE  INCARNATION. 


STATEMENT    OF    THE    DOCTRINE. 

God,  in  our  nature,  is  the  central 
truth  and  soul  of  Christianity.  "  In 
Him,"  says  the  Apostle,  referring  to  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  "  dwelleth  all  the 
fulness  of  the  Godhead  bodily." 

Here  was  a  peculiar  and  wonderful 
manifestation  of  the  Deity.  In  some 
sense,  indeed,  he  is  manifested  every 
where.  The  heavens  declare  the  glory 
of  the  Lord,  and  the  firmament  show- 
eth  forth  his  handiwork.  In  all  the 
signatures  of  order  and  deslcfn,  we  be- 


-O 


8  THE    IXCAUNATIOX. 


hold  his  unsearchable  wisdom.  In  all 
that  is  fair  in  nature,  shines  forth  the  un- 
created excellence  of  the  Eternal.  In 
all  that  is  grand  and  sublime,  his  a>vful 
majesty  appears.  In  the  numberless 
forms  of  Ufe  and  enjoyment,  with  wliich 
the  world  abounds,  we  see  the  evidences 
of  his  exuberant  goodness  and  love.  But 
the  doctrine  of  the  Bible  is,  that  in  Jesus 
dwelleth  the  fulness  of  the  divine  na- 
ture ;  that  he  who  some  eighteen  hun- 
dred years  ago,  walked  as  a  man  over 
the  hills  and  the  plains  of  Palestine, 
clothed  with  a  body  like  our  own,  sub- 
ject to  decay,  disease,  and  death,  and 
who  had  a  soul  also  like  ours,  susceptible 
of  joy  and  sorrow,  hope  and  fear,  was 
none  other  than  the  great  Creator  in 
human  form,  God  over  all  and  blessed 
forever. 
) . o 


o 

THE    IXCAKXATIOX.  1 


PROOFS   OF   THE   DOCTRINE. 

1.  The  references,  wliich  are  made  in 
the  Old  Testament,  to  the  coming  and 
character  of  the  Messiah,  are  appropriate 
to  the  personage  here  described.  "  Unto 
us  a  child  is  born,  a  Son  is  given,  and 
his  name  shall  be  called  Wonderful,  the 
mighty  God,  the  everlasting  Father,  the 
Prince  of  peace."  In  no  being  that  has 
ever  appeared  on  earth,  is  this  prophecy 
completely  and  gloriously  fulfilled,  ex- 
cept in  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  A  Son,  and 
yet  the  everlasting  Father  —  a  child 
born,  and  yet  the  mighty  God !  What 
could  have  suggested  such  an  apparent 
paradox  to  the  prophet,  unless  it  were 
an  inspired  vision  of  the  great  mystery 
"God  manifest  in  the  flesh,"  the  root,  and 


o- 


o o 

10  THE    INCARNATION. 


yet  the  offspring  of  David,  the  bright 
and  morning  star ! 

2.  The  circumstances  attending  our 
Saviour's  birth,  were  also  appropriate  to 
the  wonderful  mystery  of  his  nature. 
"  When  Jesus  was  born  in  Bethlehem 
of  Judea,  in  the  days  of  Herod  the  king, 
behold  there  came  wise  men  from  the 
east  to  Jerusalem,  sajnng,  AVTiere  is  he 
that  is  born  king  of  the  Jews  ?  for  we 
have  seen  his  star  in  the  east  and  are  come 
to  worship  him.  And  lo,  the  star  which 
they  saw  in  the  east  went  before  them  till 
it  came  and  stood  over  where  the  young 
child  was.  And  when  they  were  come 
into  the  house,  they  saw  the  young  child 
with  Mary,  his  mother,  and  fell  down 
and  worshipped  him.  And  when  they 
had  opened  their  treasures,  they  pre- 
sented unto  him  gifts :  gold,  frankincense, 
O O 


o 

THE   INCARNATION.  11 


and  myrrh.  And  there  were  in  the  same 
country,  shepherds  abiding  in  the  field, 
keeping  watch  over  their  flock  by  night. 
And  lo,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came  upon 
them  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shone 
round  about  them  ;  and  they  were  sore 
afraid.  And  the  angel  said  unto  them. 
Fear  not,  for  behold  I  bring  you  good 
tidings  of  great  joy  which  shall  be  to  all 
people ;  for  unto  you  is  born  this  day  in 
the  city  of  David,  a  Saviour,  which  is 
Christ  the  Lord.  And  suddenly  there 
was  with  the  angel  a  multitude  of  the 
heavenly  host  praising  God  and  saying, 
Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth 
peace,  good  will  toward  men." 

Signs  in  the  heavens,  the  songs  of  an- 
gels, the  joy  of  saints,  who  liad  been  long 
looking  for  the  consolation  of  Israel,  and 
the  voice  of  the  Spirit,  all  united  to  hon- 


) o 

12  THE    INCARKATIOX. 


or  and  celebrate  the  glorious  event.  Not 
only  so,  but  the  first  begotten  is  intro- 
duced to  the  world  with  this  significant 
declaration  from  the  Father  himself,  "Let 
all  the  angels  of  God  worship  him." 

"  See  nature  hastes  lier  earliest  wreaths  to 

bring 
With  all  the  incense  of  the  breathing  Spring: 
See  lofty  Lebanon  his  head  advance, 
See  nodding  forests  on  the  moiintains  dance ; 
See  spicy  clouds  from  lowly  Sharon  rise, 
And  Carmel's  flowery  top  perfume  the  skies  ! 
Hark  I  a  glad  voice  the  lonely  desert  cheers, 
Prepare  the  way,  A  God  —  a  God  appears ! 
A  God  —  a  God !  the  vocal  hills  reply ; 
The  rocks  proclaim  the  approaching  Deity." 

3.  The  words  and  actions  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  on  earth  are  in  perfect  ac- 
cordance with  this  view  of  his  character. 
He  was  in  fashion  as  a  man ;  meek,  hum- 

o u 


)■ o 

THE    IXCARN-.VTIOX.  13 

ble,  unostentatious.  Simplicity-  marked 
all  his  proceedings.  There  was  no 
studied  attempt  to  startle  the  world  by 
displays  of  power,  or  to  attract  admira- 
tion by  his  superior  knowledge  and  wis- 
dom. In  his  works  of  beneficence  he 
sought  to  avoid  the  public  gaze,  and  ex- 
ercised his  ministry  in  the  most  unpre- 
tending manner ;  sometimes  reading  and 
expounding  the  Word  in  the  synagogue, 
sometimes  addressing  the  people  on  the 
shores  of  Genesareth,  or  at  the  temple 
in  Jerusalem ;  oftener,  however,  con- 
versing and  praying  with  his  disciples 
apart.  Yet  there  were  even  here  indi- 
cations of  his  infinite  majesty.  '•  Ilis 
brightness  was  as  the  light.  He  had 
horns  coming  out  of  his  hand,  and  there 
was  the  hiding  of  his  power."  The  ele- 
ments of  nature  were  under  his  control. 


O- 


14  THE    INCARNATION. 


He  spake,  and  the  winds  and  the  sea 
obeyed  him. 

Still  more  wonderful  were  the  words 
of  wisdom  that  fell  from  his  lips.  "  So 
natural  and  yet  so  pregnant,  so  clear  and 
yet  so  striking,  so  plain  and  yet  so  pro- 
found, they  resemble  the  works  of  God, 
which,  while  they  attract  a  child  by  their 
freshness  and  beauty,  engage  a  philoso- 
pher by  their  grandeur  and  perfection." 
Never  man  spake  like  this  man  !  The 
moral  truths  he  taught  were  not  only  in 
advance  of  the  period  in  which  he  lived, 
but  of  every  succeeding  age.  There  is 
now  no  system  of  ethics  so  pure  and 
perfect,  so  adapted  to  our  nature  and  to 
all  the  relations  and  circiunstances  of 
life,  as  that  which  was  promulgated  by 
Jesus  of  Nazareth.  "  Whence  hath  this 
man  this  wisdom  and  these  mighty 
O -O 


^ ^ Q 

THE    INCARNATION.  15 

works  ?  "  Nay,  more :  his  was  not  a 
system  of  mere  morality.  The  truths 
he  uttered  were  replete  with  a  trans- 
forming power.  He  spake  as  one  hav- 
ing authority.  The  law  came  by  Moses, 
but  grace  and  truth  came  by  Jesus 
Christ.  Error  was  corrected,  immorality 
abandoned,  prejudices  subdued,  hatred 
overcome,  hearts  were  filled  with  love, 
and  souls  animated  with  a  new  life  under 
his  mighty  influence.  Truly  this  was 
the  Son  of  God  ! 

"  As  in  his  birth,  so  during  his  whole 
life,  the  majesty  of  Jesus  was  generally 
concealed  from  the  eyes  of  men.  It  is 
the  sun  behind  the  cloud,  and  yet  enough 
of  its  splendor  here  and  there  breaks 
through  the  gloom  to  indicate  the  pres- 
ence of  the  luminary  beyond."  "His 
entire  separation  from  the  world,  like  a 


O- 


o o 

16  THE    INCARNATION. 


'  star  dwelling  apart '  even  wliile  min- 
gling in  society,  his  authority,  so  lofty 
and  decisive,  his  natural  yet  singular  and 
all-commanding  speech,  his  mastery  over 
nature,  walking  now  upon  the  waves  of 
the  sea,  now  becoming  invisible,  now  ap- 
pearing unexpectedly  —  anon  forgiving 
sin  and  attesting  his  power  to  do  so  by 
miraculous  cures  —  opening  blind  eyes, 
unstopping  deaf  ears,  dissipating  the  lep- 
rous taint,  and  raising  the  very  dead  — 
all  these  and  similar  manifestations  of 
the  Divinity  prove  that  even  when  on 
earth,  there  dwelt  in  the  man  Christ 
Jesus,  all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead 
bodily." 

"  Adoring  saints  around  him.  stand, 
And  thrones  and  powers  before  him  fall ; 
The  God  shines  gracious  through  the  man, 
And  sheds  sweet  glories  on  them  all." 
O O 


THE    IXCARXATIOK.  17 

4.  The  manner  in  -which  the  evangel- 
ists and  inspired  apostles  speak  of  Christ 
is  also  in  perfect  harmony  with  this  view  of 
his  character.  "  We  have  not,"  say  they, 
"  followed  cunningly  devised  fables,  when 
we  made  known  unto  you  the  power 
and  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  for 
we  were  eye-witnesses  of  his  majesty." 
"  In  him  was  life,  and  the  life  was  the  light 
of  men.  That  was  the  true  light  that 
lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the 
world."  "  He  is  the  image  of  the  invisible 
God,  the  first  born  of  every  creature,  for 
it  pleased  the  father  that  in  him  should 
all  fulness  dwell."  And  "  he  hath  given 
him  to  be  Head  over  all  things  to  the 
church,  which  is  his  body,  the  fulness 
of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all."  Thus  the 
early  disciples  honored  the  Son  even  as 
they  honored  the  Father.  They  had  no 
O '■ O 


o 0 

18  THE    INCARNATION. 

fear  of  going  too  far,  in  expressions  of 
love  and  adoration.  They  preached  sal- 
vation through  his  death.  They  baptised 
in  his  name.  They  prayed  and  sang 
praises  to  him  as  their  Lord  and  their 
God,  and  when  dying  committed  their 
souls  with  unwavering  confidence  into 
his  hands.  All  this  was  done  while  the 
solemn  admonition  of  the  prophet  was 
well  known  to  them,  "  Cursed  is  man 
that  trusteth  in  man,  and  maketh  flesh 
his  arm."  And  yet  the  name  of  Christ 
occurs  at  every  turn  as  the  object  of  as- 
sured confidence,  of  a  hope  which  shall 
never  make  ashamed,  of  a  joy  that  is  un- 
speakable and  full  of  glory.  The  early 
disciples  were  distinguished  from  both 
the  heathen  and  the  Jews,  by  this,  "  that 
in  all  places  they  called  upon  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus."  Most  obviously  did 
O O 


O Q 

THE    IN-CARXATION'.  19 


they  regard  him  as  divine,  and  worship- 
ped him  as  a  God.  And  why  should 
he,  knowing  this,  allow  the  impression  to 
go  uncorrected  ?  It  was  blasphemy,  ac- 
cording to  his  own  teaching,  to  accord 
divine  honor  to  a  created  being.  "  Thou 
shalt  worship  the  Lord  thy  God  and  him 
only  shalt  thou  serve."  The  Apostles  re- 
jected such  honor  because  they  were 
men.  Yea,  angels  refused  it.  It  could 
with  propriety,  therefore,  be  given  to 
Christ  only  on  the  supposition  that  while 
he  was  a  man  he  had  a  nature  that  was 
above  men  and  above  angels ;  in  a  word, 
that  "  he  was  the  brightness  of  the  Fa- 
ther's glory  and  the  express  image  of  his 
person." 

5.  The  importance  which  the  Scrip- 
tures attach  to  the  condescension  of 
Christ,  confirms  the  view  we  have  taken 


■o 


o o 

20  THE    INCARNATION. 

of  his  character.  The  power  of  the  gos- 
pel in  subduing  the  human  heart  is  at- 
tributed to  its  being  such  a  wonderful 
exhibition  of  Christ's  love,  and  the 
strength  of  his  love  is  shown  from  the 
greatness  of  the  sacrifice  he  made  to 
effect  the  work  of  hiunan  redemption. 
"  Herein  is  love,  that  when  we  were 
without  strength,  Chi-ist  died  for  the  un- 
godly." The  song  of  the  redeemed  in 
heaven  is,  "  Unto  him  that  loved  us  and 
washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood, 
and  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  unto 
Grod  and  his  Father,  to  him  be  glory  and 
dominion  "forever."  But  if  Christ  were 
a  mere  creature,  however  exalted,  these 
lofty  celebrations  of  his  love  and  conde- 
scension would  be  strange  and  inappro- 
priate. The  Apostles  and  others  in  the 
ministry  of  reconciliation,  suffered  per- 
0 


o o 

THE    IXCAKN'ATIOX.  2\ 

secutioii  and  martyrdom.  The  Holy 
Ghost  witnessed  that  in  eVery  place 
bonds  and  afflictions  awaited  them ; 
but  they  persevered  heroically  to  the 
last,  and  sealed  their  testimony  with  their 
blood.  In  what,  then,  does  the  superior- 
ity of  Jesus  appear  V  If  he  were  only  a 
good  man,  a  servant,  an  ambassador, 
then  is  he  only  on  a  level  with  apostles 
and  martyrs ;  for  they  were  the  xnessen- 
gers  of  God,  and  faithful  unto  death. 
And  why  should  so  much  more  be  made 
of  his  sacrifices  than  of  theirs  ?  Why 
should  Paul  say,  *'  Ye  know  the  grace  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  though  he 
was  rich  for  our  sakes  he  became  poor  ?  " 
But  on  the  supposition  that  in  becoming 
a  man,  a  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted 
with  grief,  he  had  descended  from  the 
highest   heavens,  there   is  a  fulness  of 


o- 


o o 

22  THE    INCARNATION. 


meaning  in  this  language.  "  Hereby 
perceive  we  the  love  of  God,  because  he 
laid  down  his  life  for  us."  O  what  grace 
is  here !  He  who  is  the  original  source 
of  blessedness  and  honor,  descending  to 
the  pain  and  ignominy  of  the  cross! 
This  gives  a  significancy,  a  most  solemn 
import,  to  all  that  is  said  of  the  conde- 
scension of  Christ,  and  of  the  influence 
which  such  evidence  of  his  love  is  adapt- 
ed to  exert  on  the  human  heart.  "  Will 
God,"  says  Solomon,  "  in  very  deed  dwell 
with  men  upon  the  earth  ! "  Behold 
heaven  and  the  heaven  of  heavens  cannot 
contain  him  !  Yet  this  amazing  grace 
is  realized  in  Christ.  In  Jesus,  the  true 
and  ever-Uving  God  appears,  not  with  the 
dazzling  splendors  of  an  angel,  or  with 
the  forbidding  majesty  of  a  king  upon 
the  throne,  but  with  all  the  sympathies 


O- 


o 

THE    IXCARyATIOX.  23 


of  our  nature,  speaking  good  tidings  to 
the  meek  and  binding  up  the  broken 
heart. 

This  it  is  that  kindles  the  inspiration 
of  the  church,  the  songs  of  angels,  and 
the  hallelujalis  of  the  redeemed,  calling 
forth 

"  Praise,  ardent,  cordial,   constant  to  high 

heaven, 
More  fragrant  than  Arabia  sacrificed. 
And  all  her  spicy  mountains  in  a  flame." 

6.  The  assurance  of  hope,  the  strength 
and  comfort  of  faith,  exhibited  by  those 
who  have  put  their  trust  in  Christ,  are 
a  proof  of  his  divinity.  What  could  in- 
duce men  to  hazard  their  all  in  commit- 
ting their  souls  to  him  as  a  "  faithful 
Creator,"  unless  they  had  evidence  that 
he  were  so  in  realitv  ?     It  is  a  fearful 


o- 


o ■ ^ c 

24  THE    INCARXATIO>s-. 

thing  in  view  of  eternity  and  the  des- 
tinies of  tlie  undying  soul,  to  indulge  in 
a  false  or  an  uncertain  hope,  —  to  rest 
responsibilities  so  inconceivably  great  on 
what  may  fail  us  in  the  day  of  trial. 
But  what  believer  in  Jesus  ever  for  a 
moment  had  the  slightest  fear  that  he 
was  trusting  in  one  that  would  prove  de- 
fijcient  either  in  grace  or  power  ?  Who 
ever  apprehended  that,  resting  upon  the 
atonement  of  Christ,  the  ground  of  his 
hope  would  give  way  from  under  him  ? 
The  reason  is,  that  in  the  very  nature  of 
faith^  there  is  an  intuitive  perception  of 
Christ's  divinity.  His  image  is  impress- 
ed upon  the  renewed  heart  as  outward 
objects  upon  the  retina  of  the  eye. 
Christ  is,  as  it  were,  reproduced  in  the 
soul  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  so  that  his  people 
recognize  him  at  once,  and  say,  "  This  is 


O ' 

THE    IXCARXATION.  25 

our  God  -y  we  have  waited  for  him  and 
he  -svill  save  us.  This  is  the  Lord.  We 
Iiave  waited  for  him ;  we  will  rejoice  and 
be  glad  in  his  salvation." 

Questions  may  be  put  to  the  humble 
disciple  respecting  the  mystery  of  the 
Incarnation  which  he  cannot  answer,  but 
" one  thing  I  know"  is  his  reply,  '•  that 
whereas  once  I  was  blind,  now  I  see." 
Such  was  tli,e  faith  of  primitive  Chris- 
tians. It  was  strong  and  unwavering, 
full  of  comfort  and  joy.  They  knew 
in  wlionx  they  had  believed,  and  that  he 
was  able  to  keep  what  they  had  commit- 
ted to  him  against  tha^t  day.  Their  faith 
aix>se  not  merely  from  the  outward  evi- 
dences of  his  Messiahship,  his  miracles, 
the  gracious  words  which  proceeded  from 
his  lips,  his  pure  and  blameless  life,  the 
scenes  which  transpired  at  the  crucifix- 
0 O 


26  THE    INCARNATION. 


ion,  his  resurrection  from  the  dead,  of 
which  he  gave  them  many  infallible 
proofs,  being  seen  of  them  forty  days 
after  his  passion,  and  speaking  to  them 
of  the  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom 
of  God ;  but  it  was  a  faith  which  arose 
from  the  witness  of  the  spirit.  "  God 
who  commanded  the  light  to  shine  out  of 
darkness,"  said  they,  "  hath  shined  in  our 
hearts,  to  give  the  light  of  the  knowledge 
of  the  glory  of  God  as  it  shines  in  the  face 
of  Jesus  Christ."  Their  faith  was  the 
substance  of  things  hoped  for  and  the  evi- 
dence of  things  not  seen.  They  were 
sealed  with  that  holy  spirit  of  promise 
which  was  the  earnest  of  their  inheri- 
tance until  the  redemption  of  the  pur- 
chased possession.  Thus  the  Apostle 
Peter,  speaking  of  Christ  as  a  Prince 
and  a  Saviour,  whose  prerogative  it  was 
O O 


o_ 

THE    INCARXATIOX. 


to  give  repentance  unto  Israel  and  the 
remission  of  sins,  says,  "  And  we  are  wit- 
nesses of  these  things,  and  so  is  also  the 
Holy  Ghost  whom  God  hath  given  to  all 
them  that  obey  him."  Hence,  among 
that  class  of  Christians  who  are  led  by 
the  Spirit,  who  are  accustomed  to  com- 
mune with  God  in  prayer,  and  who  read 
the  Scriptures  with  a  view  to  their  own 
spiritual  improvement,  there  is  a  remark- 
able uniformity  of  opinion  in  reference 
to  the  character  and  work  of  Christ. 
You  might  as  easily  pluck  the  sun 
from  the  heavens  as  to  argue  them 
out  of  their  faith.  Men  of  learning  and 
science  may  find  insuperable  difficulties 
connected  with  the  Incarnation,  but  the 
humble  Christian,  whose  delight  it  is  to 
do  the  will  of  God,  knows  of  the  doctrine. 
He  experiences  the  "  mystery "  within 


O- 


; O 

28  THE   IXCAKNATION. 


his  own  soul,  and  feeds  upon  it  as  the 
bread  which  cometh  down  from  heaven. 
To  a  mind  enUghtened  by  the  Spirit  to 
see  the  exceeding  sinfulness  of  sin,  to  a 
heart  which  is  humbly  praying  tor  par- 
don, hungering  and  thirsting  after  right- 
eousness, no  doctrine  is  more  readily 
seen  or  more  precious  than  that  of  the 
Incarnation.  It  meets  the  deep-felt  ne- 
cessities of  the  soul,  and  while  other 
refuges  fail,  this  is  an  hiding-place  from 
the  wind  and  a  covert  from  the  storm ;  as 
the  rivers  of  water  in  a  dry  place,  and 
the  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary 
land. 


o- o 

THE    INCAKN-VTION.  29 


THE     PKACTICAL      BEARING     OF     THE 

INCARNATION    ON     THE     OFFICES 

OF    CHRIST. 

1.  As  Mediator.  The  mystery  of  the 
Incarnation  "  is  the  stupendous  link  be- 
tween God  and  man,  heaven  and  earth — 
the  mystic  ladder,  whose  foot  is  on  a 
level  with  the  dust,  and  whose  summit 
penetrates  the  inmost  recesses  of  an  un- 
approachable splendor."  The  need  of 
such  a  medium  of  communication  with 
the  invisible  Creator,  is  felt  by  every 
thoughtful  mind.  "  Neither  is  there  any 
day's-man  bet^vixt  us,"  Sciid  the  Patri- 
arch, "  that  might  lay  his  hand  upon 
us  both  ! "  He  felt  a  difficulty  arising 
from  the  infinite  greatness  of  Jehovah. 
The  manifestations  of  His  power  in  the 


o- 


o- o 

30  THE    INCARNATION. 

material  universe  only  indicated  how 
profound  and  awful  was  his  nature,  and 
how  fathomless  the  depths  of  the  mys- 
tery ill  which  his  being  is  enshrined. 
"  He  removeth  the  mountains  and  over- 
turneth  them  in  his  anger.  He  shaketh 
the  earth  out  of  her  place,  and  the  pil- 
lars thereof  tremble.  He  spreadeth  out 
the  heavens  as  a  curtain,  and  treadeth 
upon  the  waves  of  the  sea.  He  maketh 
Arcturus,  Orion,  Pleiades,  and  the  cham- 
bers of  the  South.  He  doeth  great  things 
past  finding  out,  yea,  and  wonders  with- 
out number."  Deeply  distressed  in 
mind  and  forsaken  by  all  others,  the 
pious  man  of  Uz  wished  to  make  known 
liis  case  to  God.  But  how  shall  he  cross 
the  immeasurable  abyss,  and  gain  access 
to  One  who  dwelleth  in  light  which  no 
man  can  approach  unto  ?     How  shall  a 


THE    IKCARXATIOX.  31 


worm  of  the  dust  ever  hope  to  have  com- 
munion with  the  invisible  God,  whose 
majesty  is  so  transcendant  and  overpow- 
ering !  "  0  that  I  knew  where  I  miglit 
find  him,  I  would  come  even  to  his  seat. 
I  would  order  my  cause  before  him,  and 
fill  my  mouth  with  arguments.  O  that 
one  might  plead  with  God  as  a  man 
pleadeth  with  his  neighbor ! "  How 
completely  and  gloriously  is  this  desire 
realized  by  the  Incarnation  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ !  His  name  is  Immanuel  — 
God  with  us.  Hei^e  the  Deity  comes 
forth  from  the  depths  of  his  retirement. 
In  the  person  of  our  Mediator,  God  is 
brought  near  to  us  and  a  way  is  opened 
into  the  holiest  of  all,  by  which  we  can 
draw  nigh  to  God.  He  addresses  us  in 
words  of  kindness,  of  sympathy,  and 
love.    'V\Tiile  I  recoomize  Him  as  the 


o- 


o o 

32  THE    INCARNATION. 

king  eternal,  immortal,  invisible,  to 
whom  belongeth  glory,  dominion,  and 
power  forever,  I  know  that  he  can  be 
touched  with  a  feeling  of  my  infirmities. 
I  can  confide  in  him  as  in  a  parent.  I 
can  commune  with  him  as  a  brother  and 
friend.  I  can  lean  mpon  my  Saviour's 
bosom,  and  out  of  his  fulness  receive 
even  grace  for  grace. 

2.  As  a  Prophet.  It  was  predicted 
that  from  among  the  Jews  the  Lord  their 
God  would  raise  them  up  a  prophet  like 
unto  Moses  ;•  that  is,,  a  teacher  of  divine 
truth,  who,  \\k-e  the  lawgiver  of  Israel, 
should  introduce  a  new  dispensation. 
The  apostle  Peter  applies  this  predic- 
tion to  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  was 
pre-eminently  a  Prophet.  "  No  man 
hath  seen  God  at  any  time  ;  the  only 
begotten  Son  which  is  in  the  bosom  of 
O O 


o 

THE    INCARXATIOX.  33 


the  Father,  he  hath  declared  him."  Life 
and  immortality  are  brought  to  light  by 
his  teaching.  The  special  object  of  his 
ministry  was  to  make  known  the  plan  of 
redemption  —  to  announce  the  great 
scheme  which  infinite  wisdom  had  de- 
vised for  the  salvation  of  the  guilty.  Our 
gospel  began  to  be  spoken  by  the  Lord 
himself,  "  and  was  confirmed  unto  us  by 
them  that  heard  him,  God  also  bearing 
them  witness  both  with  signs  and  won- 
ders, and  divers  miracles  and  gifts  of  the 
Holy  Ghost"  Christ  was  appointed  to 
utter  truths  of  the  greatest  moment  to 
mankind,  and  such  as  human  reason  is 
confessedly  inadequate  to  discover  ;  and 
how  wonderfiiUy  is  he  qualified,  by  the 
mystery  of  the  Incarnation,  to  fulfil  his 
mission  I  A  created  and  finite  being 
might  indeed  be  appointed  by  the  God 

) 1 ■■ < 


o c 

34  THE    IXCARXATIOX. 

of  heaven  to  the  oflice  of  a  prophet. 
Holy  men  of  old  spake  as  they  were 
moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  But  who  is 
so  well  qualified  to  give  instruction  to 
men  on  divine  subjects,  as  one  in  whom 
the  divine  and  human  nature  are  united  ? 
Who  else,  it  may  well  be  asked,  knowcth 
the  mind  of  the  Lord,  or  being  his  coun- 
sellor, hath  taught  him  ?  There  is  no 
searching  of  his  understanding.  Who, 
then,  shall  teach  us  of  God  ?  AVe  want 
to  hear  from  his  own  lips.  In  unfolding 
the  mystery  which  hath  been  hidden  for 
ages  —  in  making  known  the  deep  coun- 
sels of  the  divine  mind  on  the  great 
subject  of  human  salvation,  on  which  all 
the  voices  of  nature  are  silent,  and  in 
reference  to  which  the  wisdom  of  this 
world  has  proved  itself  as  nothing,  and 
less  than  nothing,  and  vanity,  who  shall 
O O 


THE    INCARNATION.  35 

speak  with  such  authority  and  so  satis- 
factorily as  he  whom  the  evangelist  de- 
scribes as  having  been  in  the  beginning 
with  God,  and  who  was  God,  and  who  in 
the  fulness  of  time  was  made  flesh  and 
dwelt  among  us  ? 

Hence  the  power  of  his  teaching,  and 
the  confidence  which  his  ministry  inspir- 
ed. "  It  was  humanity,  stainless  indeed, 
refined,  exalted,  refulgent  with  the  in- 
carnate divinity,  but  still  humanity,  with 
its  smiles  and  tears  ;  our  nature,  with  its 
quick,  strong  impulses  of  affection,  of 
sorrow,  and  of  joy.  And  who  does  not 
see  that  the  gospel,  passing  through  a 
human  mind  as  the  medium  of  its  com- 
munication with  other  minds,  spoken 
with  the  persuasive  tones  of  human  ut- 
terance, breathed  out  with  the  sweet 
modulations  of  human  affections  and  sen- 


o- 


o 


36  THE    INCAKNATIOX. 


sibilities,  and  with  the  deep  earnestness 
of  human  experience,  is  far  more  elo- 
quent to  man,  far  better  adapted  to  the 
end  for  which  the  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel was  appointed,  than  if  sung  on  earth 
with  angel  harps  and  voices,  or  sounded 
out  from  the  trumpets  of  the  seraphim  !" 
3.  Another  office  sustained  by  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christy  is  that  of  a  priest.  His  char- 
acter as  such  is  set  forth  in  the  epistle 
to  the  Hebrews.  He  is  described  as  a 
minister  of  the  sanctuary  and  of  the  true 
tabernacle,  which  the  Lord  pitched  and 
not  man.  It  is  evident,  says  the  Apos- 
tle, that  after  the  similitude  of  Melchis- 
edec,  there  ariseth  another  priest,  who  is 
made  not  after  the  law  of  a  carnal  com- 
mandment, but  after  the  power  of  an  end- 
less life.  "  Such  an  high  priest  became 
us,  who  is  holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  and 


o- 


o 

THE    IXCARNATIOy.  3' 


separate  from  sinners,  and  made  higher 
than  the  heavens  ;  who  needeth  not  daily, 
as  the  high  priests  under  the  law,  to  offer 
up  sacrifices,  first  for  his  own  sins  and 
then  for  the  people's ;  for  this  he  did  once 
when  he  offered  up  himself.  For  the  law 
maketh  men  high  priests  which  have  in- 
firmity ;  but  the  word  of  the  oath  which 
was  since  the  law,  maketh  the  Son  who 
is  consecrated  forevermore." 

The  Apostle  shows  the  superiority  of 
Christ  in  various  particulars,  but  espe- 
cially in  reference  to  the  two  most  im- 
portant functions  of  the  priestly  office  ; 
that  of  offering  sacrifice  and  making  in- 
tercession. "  Every  high  priest  is  or- 
dained to  offer  gifts  and  sacrifices,  where- 
fore it  is  of  necessity  that  this  man  have 
somewhat  also  to  offer."  In  what,  then, 
does  his  sacrifice  consist,  and  wherein  is 


o- 


o o 

38  THE    INCAENATION. 


its  efficacy  ?  In  the  work  of  human  re- 
demption the  Scriptures  obviously  attach 
special  importance  to  the  death  of  Christ. 
It  is  not  by  the  truths  he  taught,  nor  by 
his  wonderful  works,  nor  by  his  pure 
and  blameless  life,  that  he  becomes  the 
author  of  eternal  salvation  ;  but  in  bring- 
ing many  sons  unto  glory,  he  is  made 
perfect  through  sufferings.  We  have 
redemption  through  his  blood.  On  his 
cross  he  spoiled  the  principahties  and 
powers  of  hell.  We  are  saved  by  the 
offering  of  the  body  of  Jesus  Christ  once 
for  all.  And  why  is  such  efficacy  as- 
cribed to  Christ's  sufferings  ?  It  is  not 
merely  that  they  were  confirmatory  of 
his  doctrines  —  not  that  they  exhibited 
in  him  a  martyr-spirit  —  proving  his  sin- 
cerity and  zeal  in  an  enterprise  of  mer- 
cy ;  but  because,  in  the  divine  adminis- 


o o 

THE    INCARNATION.  39 


tration,  an  expiatory'  sacrifice  was  deem- 
ed necessary  to  the  great  work  of  human 
redemption.  Christ  was  to  make  atone- 
ment by  his  death.  This  was  the  grand 
object  of  his  mission  on  earth,  not  inci- 
dental to  it,  but  its  crowning  purpose. 
His  birth,  his  manner  of  life,  his  minis- 
try,  all  indicate  that  they  were  subsidiary 
to  a  higher  purpose,  and  preparatory  to 
a  greater  scene.  They  were  designed 
to  pave  the  way  to  that  awfully  mysteri- 
ous death  which  he  suffered  upon  the 
cross.  "  I  have  a  baptism  to  be  baptized 
with,  and  how  am  I  straitened  till  it  be 
accomplished  ! "  The  Apostle  states  dis- 
tinctly the  purpose  of  his  death.  He 
was  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation  for  our 
sins  through  faith  in  his  blood,  that  God 
might  be  just  and  yet  the  justlfier  of  him 
that  believeth. 


)■ 


40  THE    INCARNATIOX. 

Such  an  expedient  was  demanded  by 
the  law.  No  judicious  magistrate,  how- 
ever tender  and  compassionate,  feels  at 
liberty  to  pardon  a  criminal  simply  on 
the  ground  of  his  penitence.  Washing- 
ton would  gladly  have  spared  the  life 
of  the  ill-fated  Andre.  He  signed  his 
death  warrant  with  tears.  But  he  was 
impelled  to  the  painful  act  by  a  high 
sense  of  public  duty.  Every  instance  of 
pardon,  where  guilt  is  clearly  proved, 
unless  some  reason  can  be  assigned  be- 
sides the  penitence,  or  even  the  refor- 
mation of  the  offender,  weakens  the 
force  of  law  over  the  public  mind,  and 
brings  discredit  upon  the  government. 
If  mercy,  therefore,  is  to  be  exercised  in 
the  government  of  God,  if  forgiveness  is 
to  be  extended  to  the  transgressor,  and 
Heaven  opened  to  the  guilty  as  is  prom- 
O O 


o 

THE    IXCARNATIOX.  41 

ised  in  the  gospel,  we  should  expect  on 
the  part  of  the  Supreme  Ruler  a  pro- 
ceeding similar  to  that  which  Christ 
came  to  accomplish  by  his  death. 

That  such  Wcis  the  design  of  Christ  in 
coming  into  the  world,  is  farther  e\-ident 
from  the  ceremonies  and  sacrifices  of 
the  Mosaic  ritual,  and  the  predictions  of 
the  ancient  prophets  respecting  the  Mes- 
siah. Isaiah  says,  expressly,  "  he  was 
smitten  for  our  offences,  and  bruised  for 
our  iniquities.  The  chastisement  of  our 
peace  was  upon  him,  and  with  his  stripes 
we  are  healed."  The  object  of  Paul  in 
his  epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  is  to  show 
that  the  death  of  Christ  answered  to  the 
sacrifices  that  were  ofiered  by  the  Je^vish 
high  priest,  which  sacrifices  were  vica- 
rious and  propitiatory.  They  were  de- 
signed as   an  atonement ;   designed  to 


42  THE    INCARXATIOX. 

meet  the  claims  of  justice,  and  to  honor 
a  violated  law,  while  the  penitent,  con- 
fessing his  sins,  with  his  hand  upon  the 
bleeding  victim,  received  remission. 
Christ  was  the  antitype  of  this  proceed- 
ing, and  his  death  is  set  forth  as  being  a 
more  efficient  atonement.  "  If  the  blood 
of  bulls  and  of  goats,  and  the  ashes  of 
an  heifer,  sprinkling  the  unclean,  sancti- 
fieth  to  the  purifying  of  the  flesh,  how 
much  more  shall  the  blood  of  Christ, 
who,  through  the  eternal  spirit,  offered 
himself  without  spot  to  God  ?  " 

When  Christ  came  on  earth,  he  pro- 
fessed that  such  was  the  grand  design  of 
his  mission.  He  came  for  the  purpose 
of  dying.  His  death  was  perfectly  vol- 
untary, and  in  pursuance  of  a  design 
previously  formed.  "  I  lay  down  my  life. 
No  man  taketh  it  from  me,  but  I  lay  it 


O ( 

THE    IXCAKXATIOX.  43 

down  of  myself."  Had  Christ  been  only 
a  man,  his  dying  in  this  way  would  have 
been  suicide.  No  Prophet,  or  Apostle, 
or  Confessor,  would  be  justified  in  going 
to  the  stake  or  the  cross  if  it  were  in 
his  power  to  deliver  himself  from  his 
enemies.  But  Christ  had  power  to  save 
his  Hfe :  "  I  liave  power  to  lay  down  my 
life,"  he  says,  "  and  I  have  power  to  take 
it  again."  Legions  of  angels  were  ready 
to  come  at  his  bidding.  Nevertheless  he 
died,  died  voluntarily,  and  why  —  un- 
less to  fulfil  the  priestly  office  by  making 
atonement?  When  the  fearful  crisis 
approached,  he  exclaimed,  "  what  shall  I 
say  ?  Father,  save  me  from  this  hour  ? 
but  for  this  cause  came  I  unto  this 
hour.     Father,  glorify  thy  name." 

In  accordance  with  this  ^•iew,  the  death 
of  Christ  was  the  great  and  constant 
C O 


o — o 

44  THE    INCARNATION. 


theme  in  the  ministry  of  the  Apostles. 
To  this  they  uniformly  ascribe  his  pow- 
er as  a  Saviour.  "  I  delivered  unto  you 
first  of  all,  that  which  I  also  received  ; 
how  that  Christ  died  for  our  sins  accord- 
ing to  the  Scriptures,  and  how  that  he 
was  buried,  and  rose  again  the  third  day 
according  to  the  Scriptures."  They  do 
not  thus  speak  of  his  doctrines  or  his 
example,  great  and  excellent  as  they 
were,  but  it  was  the  cross  —  the  cross  — 
"  Christ  crucified,"  they  held  forth  as 
the  only  hope  of  the  guilty.  Paul  de- 
clares Its  superiority  to  all  human  meth- 
ods of  instruction,  strange  as  it  might 
seem  to  man.  "  The  Jews  require  a  sign, 
and  the  Greeks  seek  after  wisdom :  but 
wc  preach  Christ  crucified,  to  the  Jews 
a  stumbling  block,  and  to  the  Greeks 
foolishness;    but  unto  them  which  are 


-o 


— o 

THE    IXCARXATIOX.  45 


called  both  Jews  and  Greeks,  Christ  the 
power  of  God,  and  the  wisdom  of  God. 
Because  the  foolishness  of  God  is  wiser 
than  men  ;  and  the  weakness  of  God  is 
stronger  than  men." 

From  the  account  which  is  given  by 
the  evangelists  of  Christ's  last  sufferings, 
we  should  be  led  to  suppose  that  there 
was  in  them  an  extraordinary  and  mys- 
terious element.  He  exhibited  a  terror, 
an  anguish,  a  strange  perturbation  of 
mind,  most  difficult  to  be  accounted  for 
if  he  suffered  only  as  a  good  man.  The 
martyr  Stephen,  when  stoned,  looked 
up  steadfastly  into  heaven,  and  fell  asleep 
peacefully,  and  in  the  hope  of  a  glorious 
resurrection.  He  was  sustained  as  the 
dying  believer  ordinarily  is,  by  the  pros- 
pect of  entering  immediately  upon  a  bet- 
ter life.     The   Apostle   Paul    contem- 

Q ( 


46  THE    INCARNATION. 


plated  with  joy  the  time  of  his  departure, 
because  he  confidently  anticipated  that 
when  absent  from  the  body  he  would  be 
present  with  the  Lord,  and  would  re- 
ceive a  crown  of  glory  which  the  Lord, 
the  righteous  Judge,  would  give  him  in 
that  day.  But,  who  ever  had  a  brighter 
futurity  in  prospect  than  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  V  Never  was  there  one  so  cer- 
tain of  a  glorious  immortality.  He  had 
himself  revealed  a  future  life  ;  he  had 
often  cheered  the  hearts  of  his  disconso- 
late disciples  by  unveiling  to  their  view 
the  bright  and  unfading  attractions  of 
heaven.  Wliat,  therefore,  could  be  the 
cause  of  his  own  mental  agitation  and 
distress  ?  Sometimes  good  men,  as  they 
approach  the  invisible  world,  are  in 
doubt  respecting  their  fitness  to  appear 
before  a  holy  God.     They  are  conscious 


o 

THE    INCARXATIOX.  47 


of  indwelling  sin,  and  hence  it  is  not  a 
matter  of  surprise  that  a  cloud  of  dark- 
ness and  gloom  should  occasionally  come 
over  them.  But  there  was  nothing  of 
this  kind,  as  all  will  admit,  in  the  case  of 
our  Redeemer.  He  had  been  pure  in 
tliought,  in  word  and  in  action  holy, 
harmless,  imdefiled.  There  is  no  inti- 
mation in  the  whole  history  of  his  life 
that  conscience  ever  troubled  him.  No 
guilty  fears  agitated  his  bosom.  What- 
ever may  have  been  the  cause  of  his 
sadness  and  sorrow,  as  he  approached 
the  hour  of  crucifixion,  there  is  no  evi- 
dence that  he  doubted  a  moment  respect- 
ing his  certain  triumph  over  death,  and 
of  his  glorious  admission  to  the  kingdom 
of  heaven.  "Wlio  then  should  we  think, 
reasoning  on  ordinary  principles,  would 
be  more  likely  to  meet  death  with  com- 


O 


c— .o 

48  THE    IXCARNATIOX. 


posure  than  he  —  with  a  conscience  void 
of  oflence,  free  from  the  slightest  stain 
of  guilt,  with  a  destiny  of  surpassing 
splendor  in  view,  as  the  certain  reward 
of  his  obedience  and  fidelity  ? 

Being  also  in  the  full  vigor  of  strength 
and  manhood,  we  should  suppose  he 
would  approach  the  scene  of  his  last  suf- 
ferings with  the  heroic  fortitude  of  a 
martyr,  as  no  prophet  had  done  before 
him,  and  no  apostle  after  him.  But 
instead  of  this  calmness,  and  confidence, 
and  triumph,  how  strange  is  the  specta- 
cle actually  presented  to  our  view  !  We 
see  him  in  the  garden  of  Gethsemane, 
bathed  in  a  perspiration  of  blood,  pros- 
trated upon  the  ground,  and  praying, 
"Father,  if  it  be  possible  let  this  cup 
pass  from  me/' 

The  only  way  to  account  for  these  cir- 


o- 


o o 

THE    IXCARXATIOX.  49 

ciimstiinces,is  to  suppose  tliat  there  were 
mysterious  ingredients  of  bitterness  in 
his  cup  of  sorrow.  Once  admit  that 
there  were,  in  his  sufferings,  those  ele- 
ments of  strange  and  awful  power  that 
were  essential  to  make  his  death  an 
ofiering  for  sin,  an  atonement  adequate 
to  satisfy  offended  justice,  and  open  a 
door  of  hope  to  the  guilty,  and  the  pre- 
vious agitation,  distress,  and  trembling, 
the  prayer  in  the  garden,  the  bloody 
sweat,  and  the  outcries  of  agony,  all  are 
accounted  for.  I  know  why  the  inno- 
cent sufferer  exclaims,  my  soul  is  ex- 
ceeding sorrowful,  even  unto  death,  and 
groans  as  if  a  mountain  of  guilt  were 
resting  upon  him.  As  our  substitute,  it 
was  even  so.  God  hath  laid  on  him  the 
iniquity  of  us  all.  O  thou  bleeding  LambI 
May  we  never  forget  the  price  of  our 
O C 


o o 

50  THE    INCARNATION. 


redemption,  the  wonders  of  thy  dying 
love. 

My  soul  looks  back  to  see 
The  burdens  thou  didst  bear, 

When  hanging  on  the  cursed  tree, 
And  hopes  her  guilt  was  there. 

I  understand  Avhy  the  holy  one  and 
the  just,  who  knew  no  sin,  neither  was 
guile  found  in  his  mouth,  cries  out,  as  if 
stung  by  an  avenging  conscience,  and  as 
if  actually  deserted  of  God !  It  is  not 
that  he  is  himself  a  criminal,  nor  the  ob- 
ject of  divine  displeasure  for  a  single 
moment,  but  he  is  standing  in  the  place 
of  those  who  are  guilty,  and  who,  in 
consequence,  are  justly  exposed  to  the 
righteous  indignation  of  heaven.  He 
who  knew  no  sin  becomes  sin  for  us, 
that  we  might  be  made  the  righteous- 
ness of  God  in  him.  Hence  the  pangs 
O O 


o 

THE    IXCARXATIOX.  51 

and  throes,  his  surprise  and  an^xuish,  as 
the  hour  and  the  power  of  darkness  drew 
nigh ;  and  hence,  also,  his  exclamation 
upon  the  cross,  "  My  God !  my  God ! 
why  hast  thou  forsaken  me  ! " 

Christ's  death,  then,  being  designed  as 
an  expiatory  sacrifice,  how  directly  and 
wonderfully  does  the  dignity  of  his  char- 
acter contribute  to  its  efficacy !  "  The 
work  of  our  redemption  is  every  where 
spoken  of  as  an  achievement  of  strength, 
as  done  by  the  putting  forth  of  mighty 
energies,  as  the  work  of  one,  who,  trav- 
elling in  his  own  unaided  greatness,  had 
to  tread  the  wine-press  alone ;  and  who, 
when  of  the  people  there  was  none  to 
help  him,  did,  by  his  own  arm,  bring  sal- 
vation. To  work  out  a  pardon  for  the 
disobedient,  and  at  the  same  time  to  up- 
hold, in  all  their  strength,  the  pillars  of 


c- 


o 

)2  THE    IXCAHXATIOX. 


that  throne  which  they  had  insulted  — 
to  intercept  tlie  defied  penalties  of  the 
law,  and  at  the  same  time  to  magnify  it 
and  make  it  honorable  thus  to  bend,  as 
it  were,  the  holy  and  everlasting  attri- 
butes of  God,  and,  in  doing  so,  to  pour 
over  them  the  lustre  of  a  high  and  awful 
vindication  —  this  was  an  enterprise  of 
such  length  and  breadth,  such  height 
and  depth,  as  no  created  being  could  ful- 
fil, and  which  demanded  the  might  and 
counsel  of  him  who  is  the  wisdom  of  God 
and  the  power  of  God."  The  offering  of 
the  body  of  Jesus  Christ  becomes  a  com- 
plete and  mighty  atonement,  furnishing 
a  ground  of  hope,  firm  as  the  rock  of 
ages,  to  every  believer,  because  in  that 
body  dwelt  the  fulness  of  the  divine  na- 
ture. There  was  a  keen  and  quick  sym- 
pathy of  the  eternal  mind  with  those 
6 O 


O ^ — 0 

THE     INX'ARXATIOX.  53 

sufierings  that  were  endured  upon  the 
cross.  "  It  was  the  heart  of  the  Deity 
which  uttered  itself  in  the  sigh  of  nature, 
the  gloom  of  the  heavens,  the  trembling 
of  the  earth,  and  the  rending  of  the 
rocks."  Hence  it  is  that  from  "  groaning 
Calvary  shine  forth  the  noblest  truths ; 
there,  sacred  violence  assaults  the  soul." 

"  0  what  a  scale  of  miracles  is  here  ! 
Pardon  for  infinite  oftence  I  and  pardon 
Through  means  that  speak  its  value  infinite  ! 
A  pardon  bought  with  blood  1   with  blood 
Divine  ! " 

Another  part  of  the  priestly  office  sus- 
tained by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  was 
that  of  making  intercession  for  his  peo- 
ple. As,  under  the  law,  the  blood  of  the 
sacrifice  was  required  to  be  carried  by 
the  high  priest  within  the  veil  and  sprin- 


o- 


54  THE    INCARNATION. 


kled  upon  the  mercy  seat ;  so  Christ,  by 
his  own  blood,  hath  entered  into  the  holy 
place,  having  obtained  eternal  redemp- 
tion ;  not  into  holy  places  made  with 
hands,  which  are  the  figures  of  the  true, 
but  into  heaven  itself,  to  appear  in  the 
presence  of  God  for  us.  He  ever  liveth 
to  intercede.  We  have  an  advocate 
with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  tlie  right- 
eous. How  admirably  is  he  fitted  to  ful- 
fil his  office !  Had  we  a  cause  pending 
before  an  earthly  tribunal,  we  should 
prefer,  as  an  advocate,  one  who  was 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  laAv,  and 
with  the  cause  which  he  had  undertaken 
to  conduct  —  one,  who,  by  his  moral 
character  and  standing  in  society,  could 
command  the  greatest  influence  at  court. 
One,  who,  from  his  own  nature  and  ex- 
perience in  life,  had  a  deep  interest  in, 


o c 

THE    IXCARXATIOX.  55 

and  fellow  feeling  with,  his  client  —  and 
who,  moreover,  could  present  a  good  and 
effectual  plea  at  bar.  Look,  then,  at  the 
character  of  our  adorable  Redeemer,  as 
presented  in  the  mystery  of  the  Incarna- 
tion. In  him  are  treasured  up  all  the 
riches  of  wisdom  and  knowledge.  He 
understands  the  law  in  all  its  length  and 
breadth.  He  knows  our  guilt  and  dan- 
ger, our  temptations  and  trials,  our  pres- 
ent and  our  future  wants,  and  hence 
provides  for  exigencies  which  we  with 
our  short-sightedness  could  not  antici- 
pate. "  I  have  prayed  for  thee  that  thy 
faith  fail  not  "  —  a  boon  which  Peter,  in 
the  supposed  strength  of  his  own  moral 
integrity,  had  perhaps  not  thought  of 
asking  for  himself. 

Would  we  know  the  influence  of  our 

advocate  at  the  court  of  heaven  !    Lo !  a 

O — ■ ^ ' 


56  THE    INCARNATION. 


voice  from  the  excellent  glory  proclaims, 
"  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  with  Avhom  I 
am  ever  well  pleased."  "  Mine  elect,  in 
whom  my  soul  delighteth."  In  addition 
to  the  glory  he  had  with  the  fother  be- 
fore the  world  was,  the  fidelity  with 
which  he  has  fulfilled  the  mediatorial 
ofilce  secures  to  him  a  welcome  and  a 
successful  hearing.  "  Because  thou  hast 
loved  righteousness  and  hated  iniquity, 
therefore  God,  thy  God,  hath  anointed 
thee  with  the  oil  of  gladness  above  thy  fel- 
lows." "  Ask  of  me,  and  I  will  give  thee 
the  heathen  for  thine  inheritance,  and  the 
uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  thy  pos- 
session."        \ 

His  identity  also  with  our  nature,  his 
having  suifered  with  us  and  for  us,  gives 
to  his  intercession  a  magic  eloquence  of 
appeal.     It  is  not  merely  the  force  of 


-o 


o o 

THE     IXCAIiXATIOX.  C 


wisdom  and  of  truth,  but  an  appeal  gush- 
ing forth  from  the  deep  fountains  of  com- 
passion, from  a  heart  all  alive  and  palpi- 
tating with  sympathy.  It  is  Judah  plead- 
ing for  Benjamin  his  brother,  unwilling 
to  return  himself  to  the  promised  land 
and  to  his  father's  house,  except  the  lad 
be  with  him.  '•  We  have  not  an  high 
priest  which  cannot  be  touched  with  a 
feeling  of  our  infirmities,  for  he  was  in 
all  points  tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet 
wdthout  sin." 

Look  we  to  the  ground  of  his  plea  !  It 
is  based  upon  the  blood  of  the  everlast- 
ing covenant,  which  is  ordered  in  all 
things  and  sure,  ^ot  only  is  Christ  the 
end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  every 
one  that  believeth,  but  the  personal  holi- 
ness of  his  people  and  their  ultimate  and 
eternal  blessedness  in  heaven  are  includ- 


o- 


58  THE    IXCARXATION. 


ed  in  the  covenant  and  made  certain  by 
his  death.  We  are  complete  in  him,  who 
of  God  is  made  unto  us  wisdom  and 
righteousness,  sanctitication  and  redemp- 
tion. This  was  the  travail  of  his  soul 
which  he  shall  see  and  be  satisfied.  This 
the  promised  reward  and  glory  of  his 
sufferings  —  the  joy  that  was  set  before 
him,  for  which  he  endured  the  cross  and 
despised  the  shame.  Thus  the  interces 
sion  of  our  great  high  priest  not  only 
secures  his  people  from  the  frowns  of 
offended  justice,  but  is  adequate  to  pre- 
sent every  one  of  them  faultless  before 
the  presence  of  his  glory,  with  exceed- 
ing joy.  "  'NVlio  shall  lay  anything  to  the 
charge  of  God's  elect  ?  It  is  God  that 
justifieth  :  who  is  he  that  condemneth  ? 
It  is  Christ  that  died,  yea,  rather  that  is 
risen  again,  who  is  ever  at  the  right  hand 
O 1 


Q i 

THE    INX'ARXATIOX.  59 

of  God,  and  who  also  maketh  intercession 
for  us."  O  how  desirable  to  have  such 
an  advocate  I  Of  those  who  commit  their 
cause  to  him,  not  one  shall  fail  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven ;  for  all  the  promises 
in  him  are  yea  and  Amen,  to  the  glory 
of  God  the  Father. 

4.  Christ  is  a  King.  In  accordance 
with  ancient  prediction,  "dominion  is 
given  him,  and  glory,  and  a  kingdom, 
that  all  people,  nations,  and  languages 
should  serve  him.  His  dominion  is  an 
everlasting  dominion,  which  shall  not 
pass  away,  and  his  kingdom  that  which 
shall  not  be  destroyed."  This  kingdom 
is  established  on  earth,  in  the  midst  of  a 
world  that  knows  not  God,  where  sin 
abounds  and  Satan  reigns,  and  it  is  to 
extend  until  it  shall  have  triumphed 
over  all  authorit}-,  and  power,  and  might, 
I o 


o o 

60  THE    IXCAKXATIOX. 

and  domiulou,  and  every  name  that  is 
named,  and  until  a  multitude  which  no 
man  can  number,  out  of  all  ages,  and 
kindred,  and  people,  and  tongues,  shall 
stand  redeemed  before  the  throne  of 
God  and  the  Lamb,  clothed  with  white 
robes  and  palms  in  their  hands.  This 
achievement  is  to  be  the  work  of  the 
Messiah.  The  government  is  upon  his 
shoulder,  and  his  work  before  him.  "Were 
he  only  a  man,  alas  for  the  hope  of  Israel ! 
But  in  the  mystery  of  the  Incarnation 
there  are  elements  of  strength  adequate 
to  the  magnitude,  and  extent,  and  gran- 
deur of  the  enterprise, —  infinite  wisdom, 
almighty  power,  and  unparalleled  love. 
"  Christ  crucified,"  is  itself  an  element 
of  mysterious  and  mighty  power.  When 
all  other  expedients  have  proved  inefiec- 
tual  to  the  recovery  of  our  fallen  race,  it 
O C 


o c 

THE    INCARNATION.  Gl 

has  pleased  God,  by  the  preaching  of  the 
cross,  to  save  them  that  believe.  The  ex- 
periment made  by  the  missionaries  to  the 
Indians,  though  perhaps  familiar  to  all,  is 
a  case  in  point.  They  discoursed  elo- 
quently on  the  wisdom  and  power  of  the 
Great  Spirit,  thinking  thus  to  attract  the 
attention  of  their  swarthy  hearers,  and 
interest  them  in  religion.  But  the  Indians 
only  laughed  at  them.  They  had  heard 
nobler  sermons  on  these  subjects  than 
men  could  utter.  "  The  wild  pomp  of 
their  mountains  and  the  sublime  silence 
of  their  forests  preached  to  them."  They 
looked  up  at  night  to  the  "  pavement  of 
unfading  fire  "  above  them,  and  listened 
to  the  voice  of  God  in  the  storm,  and  in 
the  rushing  of  the  cataract,  deep  calling 
unto  deep.  Nature,  with  her  ten  thou- 
sand tongues,  was  daily  preaching  ser- 
O O 


o o 

62  THE    INCARNATION. 


raons  to  them  on  God's  natural  attri- 
butes, more  eloquent  and  powerful  than 
ever  proceeded  from  human  lips,  and 
yet  they  had  remained  unaffected.  But 
when  the  missionaries  preached  to  them 
the  gospel,  and  spake  of  the  blood  of 
Christ,  the  savage  heart  melted.  "  Did 
he,"  said  they,  as  tears  were  flowing 
down  their  cheeks,  "  did  he  shed  his 
blood  for  us  ?  "  "  Do  tell  us  more  about 
this."  Not  only  is  there  a  power  in 
the  mystery  of  the  cross  to  break  the 
heart,  but  also  to  heal  it  when  broken. 
"  I  saw  in  my  dream,"  says  Bunyan, 
"  that  just  as  Christian  came  up  with 
the  cross,  his  burden  loosed  from  off  his 
shoulders,  and  fell  from  his  back  and 
began  to  tumble,  and  so  continued  to  do 
till  it  came  to  the  mouth  of  the  sepul- 
chre, where  it  fell  in,  and  I  saw  it  no 


THE    IXCARXATIOX.  63 


more.  Then  was  Christian  glad  and 
lightsome,  and  said  with  a  meriy  heart, 
'  He  hath  given  me  rest  by  his  sorrow, 
and  life  by  his  death.'  Tlien  he  stood 
still  awhile  to  look  and  wonder ;  for  it 
was  very  surprising  to  him  that  the  sight 
of  the  cross  should  thus  ease  him  of 
his  burden.  He  looked,  therefore,  and 
looked  again,  even  until  the  springs 
in  his  head  sent  the  waters  down  his 
cheeks."  Similar  to  this  was  the  expe- 
rience of  Luther.  Convinced  of  his  own 
sinfulness,  and  with  a  view  to  appease 
and  quiet  a  troubled  conscience,  "  he 
gave  himself  up  to  all  the  rigor  of  an 
ascetic  life.  He  endeavored  to  crucify 
the  flesh  by  fastings,  macerations,  and 
watchings."  But  shut  up  in  his  cell  as 
in  a  prison,  he  was  continually  strug- 
gling against  the  evil  thoughts  and  incli- 
O O 


o o 

64  THE    INCARNATION. 


nations  of  his  heart.  "  He  did  not  find 
in  the  cloister  the  peace  he  was  in  quest 
of.  The  fears  ^vhich  had  troubled  him 
in  the  world  pursued  him  to  his  cell." 
Nay,  more,  they  increased  there.  In 
his  solitude  he  saw  more  vividly  his 
guilt,  and  the  accusations  of  conscience 
Avere  more  severe  and  terrible  than  ever. 
In  this  state  of  mind  he  was  visited  at 
Erfuth  by  the  venerable  and  pious  Stau- 
pits,  who  said  to  him,  "  Young  man, 
why  do  you  thus  distress  yourself?  Look 
to  the  wounds  of  Jesus  Christ ;  to  the 
blood  which  he  has  shed.  It  is  there 
you  will  see  and  find  the  mercy  of  God. 
Instead  of  torturing  yourself  for  your 
faults,  cast  yourself  into  the  arms  of  the 
Redeemer.  Trust  in  him,  in  the  right- 
eousness of  his  life,  in  the  expiatory  sa- 
crifices of  his   death.     Do   not   shrink 


o- 


o o 

THE    INCARNATION'.  65 


from  him.  God  is  not  against  you.  It 
is  you  who  are  estranged  and  averse  from 
God.  Listen  to  the  Son  of  God.  He 
became  man  to  assure  you  of  the  divine 
favor.  He  says  to  you,  "  Thou  art  one 
of  my  flock  ;  hear  my  voice  and  no  man 
shall  pluck  you  out  of  my  hand."  This 
counsel  met  the  case  of  the  young  in- 
quirer and  was  the  means  of  relief  to 
his  distressed  soul.  He  looked  to  the 
cross  and  experienced  the  peace  of  God 
which  passeth  all  understanding. 

Christianity  is  certain  to  triumph  in 
the  earth,  because,  as  a  system  of  doc- 
trine and  duty,  it  is  pervaded  in  every 
part  and  made  vdtal  by  the  Divinity  of 
its  author.  The  attributes  of  infinite 
wisdom  and  power  in  him  are  its  effect- 
ual safeguards.  God  manifest  in  the 
flesh,  is  its  mighty  foundation.  "  On 
O O 


) o 

66  THE    INCARNATION. 

this  rock  will  I  build  my  church,  and  the 
gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against 
it."  In  the  most  troublous  times,  when 
Christ's  disciples  are  called  to  struggle 
against  principalities  and  powers,  against 
the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  this  world, 
and  against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high 
places,  the  mystery  of  the  Incarnation 
is  the  anchor  of  their  souls,  sure  and 
steadfast  He  lays  his  right  hand  upon 
them  and  says,  "  Fear  not,  I  am  he  that 
liveth  and  was  dead,  and  behold,  I  am 
aHve  forevermore,  Amen  :  and  have  the 
keys  of  hell  and  of  death."  However 
numerous  and  bitter  her  foes,  and  though 
dark  and  portentous  clouds  may  occa- 
sionally hang  over  Zion,  the  church  is 
perfectly  and  everlastingly  secure.  For 
the  Lord  her  God  in  the  midst  of  her  is 
mighty,  his  counsels  are  her  guide,  his 
O O 


o o 

THE    INCARNATION-.  67 

arm  is  her  defence,  and  his  presence  "  a 
wall  of  fire." 

Christ,  as  king,  is  able  to  make  all 
things  subserve  the  advancement  of  his 
mediatorial  reign.  All  events  in  provi- 
dence are  under  his  control.  He  lays 
the  universe  under  tribute.  The  heav- 
ens and  the  earth,  the  sea  and  dry  land, 
matter  and  mind  —  all  are  at  his  dispo- 
sal. The  hearts  of  the  children  of  men, 
like  the  rivers  of  water,  are  in  his  hands, 
and  he  turneth  them  about  whitherso- 
ever he  will.  He  maketh  the  wrath  of 
man  to  praise  him,  and  the  remainder 
of  wrath  will  he  restrain.  Every  move- 
ment of  mankind,  the  entei-prises  of  hu- 
man ambition,  the  crusades  of  avarice, 
the  revolutions  of  empires,  the  crumb- 
ling of  thrones,  and  the  strugglings  of 
man  for  freedom  —  all  contribute  to 
; O 


> p 

68  THE    INCARNATION. 


make  way  for  the  triumph  of  the  Messi- 
ah, though  they  may  not  themselves  in- 
tend it,  neither  do  their  hearts  think  so. 
"  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  remove  the 
diadem,  and  take  off  the  crown ;  exalt 
him  that  is  low,  and  abase  him  that  is 
high.  I  will  overturn,  and  overturn, 
and  overturn,  until  he  come  whose  right 
it  is ;  and  I  will  give  it  him.  Mountains 
shall  sink  and  valleys  rise,  rough  places 
shall  become  smooth  and  crooked  ways 
straight,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall 
be  revealed  and  all  flesh  shall  see  it  to- 
gether, for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath 
spoken  it." 

"  The  groans  of  nature  in  this  nether  world, 
Which  heaven  has  heard  for  ages,  have  an 

end, 
Foretold  by  prophets  and  by  poets  sung, 
Whose  fire  was  kindled  at  theprophet's  lamp; 

o ( 


o < 

THE    INCARNATION.  69 


The  time  of  rest,  the  promis'd  Sabbath  comes: 
Six  thousand  years  of  sorrow  have  well  nigh 
Fulfilled  their  tardy  and  disastrous  course 
Over  a  sinful  world  :  and  Avhat  remains 
Of  this  tempestuous  state  of  things 
Is  merely  as  the  working  of  the  sea 
Before  a  calm,  that  rocks  itself  to  rest : 
For  he  whose  car  the  winds  are,  and    the 

clouds 
The  dust  that  waits  upon  his  sultry  march. 
When  sin  hath  moved  him  and  his  wrath  is 

hot, 
Shall  visit  earth  in  mercy,  shall  descend 
Propitious  in  his  chariot  paved  with  love, 
And  what  his  storms  have  blasted  and  de- 
faced 
For  man's  revolt,  shall  with  a  smile  repair.' 

As  the  kingdom  of  Christ  on  earth  is 
to  be  carried  forward  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  his  people,  they  need 
to  be  under  the  influence  of  an  impel- 
ling and  sustaining  power,  mightier  than 
O ' — 


) o 

70  THE    INCARNATION. 

the  ordinary  incentives  to  human  action, 
and  this  also  is  found  in  the  Incarnation 
of  our  blessed  and  adorable  Kedeemer. 
I  am  crucified  with  Christ,  says  the 
Apostle,  nevertheless  I  live,  yet  not  I, 
but  Christ  liveth  in  me ;  and  the  life 
which  I  now  live  in  the  flesh,  I  live  by 
the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved 
me  and  gave  himself  for  me.  This  is  a 
motive  of  undying  energy  in  the  soul. 
Worldly  ambition  is  liable  to  flag  under 
disappointments  and  mortifications.  The 
ardor  of  kindness  and  love  may  be 
dampened  by  human  ingratitude.  The 
most  enterprising  groAv  weary  if  hope  is 
long  deferred.  But  the  motive  power 
of  the  church  is  the  mystery  of  Christ 
In  the  soul.  "  I  labor,"  says  an  Apostle, 
"  striving  according  to  his  working 
which  worketh  in  me  mightily.  I  am 
) O 


o- o 

THE    IXCARNATIOX. 


willing  to  spend  and  be  spent  for  you, 
though  the  more  abundantly  I  love  you, 
the  less  I  be  loved."  It  was  not  human 
ambition,  nor  the  spirit  of  worldly  en- 
terprise, nor  the  expectation  of  present 
reward,  but  the  love  of  Christ  that  con- 
strained him,  "  because  we  thus  judge," 
he  says,  "  that  if  one  died  for  all  then 
were  all  dead  :  and  that  he  died  for  all 
that  they  which  live  should  not  hence- 
forth live  unto  themselves,  but  unto  him 
which  died  for  them  and  rose  again." 
Christ  in  the  soul,  the  hope  of  glory,  is 
that  which  prepares  the  church  to  fulfil 
her  high  commission,  and  to  go  forth 
conquering  and  to  conquer.  She  is  an- 
imated, and  sustained,  and  urged  forward 
by  the  same  spirit  of  love,  and  faith,  and 
patient  endurance  which  led  her  exalted 
Head  to  persevere  in  his  work  of  mercy, 


O- 


o 

72  THE    INCARNATION. 


amid  obloquy  and  scorn,  faltering 
not  until,  all  dripping  with  the  blood 
of  Calvary,  he  exclaimed,  "  It  is  finish- 
ed." 

These  elements  of  strength,  in  the  In- 
carnation, ensure  a  complete  and  glorious 
triumph  to  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  "  He 
shall  reign  until  he  hath  put  all  enemies 
under  his  feet."  "  The  mountains  and 
the  hills  shall  break  forth  before  him 
into  singing,  and  all  the  trees  of  the 
fields  shall  clap  their  hands." 

*'  The  Saviour  comes  !  by  ancient  bards  fore- 
told, 

Hear  him,  ye  deaf,  and  all  ye  blind,  behold  ! 

He  from  thick  films  shall  purge  the  visual 
ray, 

And  on  the  sightless  eyeball  poiir  the  day  ; 

'T  is  he  the  obstructed  paths  of  sound  shall 
clear, 


O 


Q O 

THE    INCARNATION.  1 


And  bid  new  music  charm  the  unfolding 
ear  ; 

The  dumb  shall  sing,  the  lame  his  crutch 
forego, 

And  leap  exulting  like  the  bounding  roe. 

No  sigh,  no  murmur,  the  wide  world  shall 
hear; 

From  every  face  he  wipes  off  every  tear. 

In  adamantine  chains  shall  death  be  bound, 

And  hell's  grim  tyrant  feel  the  eternal  wound. 

As  the  good  shepherd  tends  his  fleecy  care, 

Seeks  freshest  pasture  and  the  purest  air. 

Explores  the  lost,  the  wandering  sheep  di- 
rects, 

By  day  o'ersees  them,  and  by  night  protects  ; 

The  tender  lambs  he  raises  in  his  arms, 

Feeds  from  his  hand,  and  in  his  bosom 
warms  ; 

Thus  shall  mankind  his  guardian  care  en- 
gage, 

The  promised  Father  of  the  future  age." 


o- 


o o 

THE    INCARNATION. 


MEANS    OF   SECURING    THE    BLESSED- 
NESS   AND    POWER    OF    THE 
INCARNATION. 

1.  A  deep  and  intimate  acquaintance 
with  Divine  Truth.  Christians  should 
study  the  Scriptures  for  themselves. 
There  Is,  in  this  respect,  a  strange  and 
fearful  neglect  of  the  Bible.  Many, 
even  of  those  professing  godliness,  have 
no  distinct  idea  of  the  gospel  plan  of 
salvation.  If  asked,  What  think  ye  of 
Christ?  they  can  give  no  satisfactory 
answer,  and  of  course  can  assign  no 
clear  and  intelligent  reason  of  the  hope 
that  is  within  them.  For  this  cause 
many  are  weak  and  sickly  among  us, 
and  many  sleep.  "  "When  for  the  time 
they  ought  to  be  teachers,  they  have 
O O 


THE    INCARNATION.  75 

need  that  one  teach  them  again  which 
be  the  first  principles  of  the  oracles  of 
God."  It  is  impossible  thus  to  feel  the 
power  and  hfe  of  the  gospel.  If  we 
would  know  the  preciousness  of  truth, 
we  must  not  depend  on  others  to  study 
it  for  us,  we  must  not  take  our  knowl- 
edge at  second-hand,  but  must  follow 
the  example  of  the  Bereans,  who  were 
more  noble  than  they  of  Thessalonica, 
in  that  they  heard  the  word  with  all 
readiness  of  mind  and  searched  the 
Scriptures  daily,  whether  those  things 
were  so.  The  waters  of  life  are  sweeter 
when  drawn,  with  our  own  pitchers, 
fresh  from  the  fountain.  As  the  truths 
of  the  gospel  were  given  by  inspiration 
of  God,  by  men  who  spake  and  wrote  as 
they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  it 
is  obvious,  that  if  we  would  receive  them 


-o 


o 

76  THE    INCARNATION. 


in  all  their  clearness  and  simplicity,  their 
fulness  and  their  power,  we  must  study 
them,  not  in  the  words  which  man's 
wisdom  teacheth,  but  in  the  words  which 
the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth,  comparing 
spiritual  things  with  spiritual.  "  Did 
not  our  hearts  burn  within  us,"  said  the 
two  disciples  who  journeyed  to  Emmaus, 
referring  to  what  they  had  heard  directly 
from  the  lips  of  the  Lord  himself,  "  did 
not  our  hearts  burn  within  us,  as  he 
talked  with  us  by  the  way,  and  opened 
to  us  the  Scriptures  ?  God's  thoughts 
are  very  deep,  and  there  is  no  medium 
through  which  they  can  be  so  clearly 
seen  as  that  which  he  has  himself  se- 
lected. His  wisdom  is  manifested  in 
the  mode  and  manner  of  revelation,  as 
well  as  in  the  revelation  itself  Not 
only  are  the  thoughts  of  the  Bible  God's 
O ^ i 


) -o 

THE    INCABNATIOX.  77 

thoughts,  but  the  imagery  and  the  words 
are  his  also  :  — Apples  of  gold  in  pic- 
tures of  silver. 

2.  The  doctrine  of  the  Incarnation,  like 
the  other  great  truths  of  the  gospel,  must 
be  received  in  the  spirit  of  humble  faith. 
It  belongs  to  a  supernatural  system,  con- 
fessedly beyond  the  sphere  of  human 
philosophy.  The  province  of  reason,  in 
this  connection,  is,  to  ascertain  whether 
God  hath  spoke,  and,  this  point  deter- 
mined, she  is  to  bow  submissively  to  his 
unerring  testimony.  Let  her  satisfy  her- 
self that  the  Scriptures  are,  in  deed  and 
in  truth,  the  word  of  God ;  after  this, 
she  is  clothed  and  in  her  right  mind,  as 
she  sits  at  the  feet  of  revelation,  and 
learns  of  him  who  was  meek  and  lowly 
in  heart.  The  union  of  the  human  and 
divine  natures  in  the  person  of  Christ  is 
O O 


o 

78  THE    INCARNATION. 


not  a  truth  which  men  can  reach  by  a 
process  of  reasoning :  hence,  it  is  made 
the  subject  of  a  special  communication 
from  heaven ;  sanctioned,  and  sustained, 
and  proved  to  be  of  God,  by  signs  and 
wonders,  and  divers  miracles  and  gifts 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Besides,  it  is  re- 
vealed not  as  a  mere  matter  of  opinion, 
but  as  a  life.  "  The  life  was  manifested 
and  we  have  seen  it  and  bear  witness, 
and  show  unto  you  that  eternal  life, 
which  was  with  the  Father  and  was  man- 
ifested unto  us."  The  Incarnation  is 
the  vital  part  of  rehgion.  As  such,  we 
may  know  it,  and  feel  its  power.  But, 
like  the  life  of  the  body,  it  is  liable  to  be 
destroyed  by  attempting  to  analyze  its 
internal  machinery.  The  existence  of 
vitality  in  the  human  frame  is  clearly 
revealed.    Its  presence  is  manifested  in 


o o 

THE    INCARNATION.  ' 


the  seeing  eye,  the  hearing  ear,  and  the 
warm  blood  which  flows  through  ever)- 
vein,  and  sends  vigor  and  animation  to 
every  limb ;  but  let  there  be  an  anatom- 
ical analysis  to  find  out  its  secret  springs, 
and  what  would  be  the  result  ?  So  it  is 
with  the  mystery  of  Christ.  A  spirit  of 
vain  speculation  is  fatal  to  its  vital  pow- 
er. Men  of  learning  and  talent  here 
sometimes  grievously  fail.  Attempting 
to  pry  into  the  secret  things  of  God,  they 
fail  to  apprehend  what  he  has  made 
known.  Endeavoring;  to  make  the  gos- 
pel  conform  to  some  system  of  human 
philosophy,  they  destroy  the  power  of 
the  gospel  itself.  It  is  like  putting  new 
wine  into  old  bottles,  which  is  destruc- 
tive to  both.  The  bottles  break  and  the 
wine  runneth  out.  Whereas,  if  the  heav- 
enlv  doctrine  is  incorporated  with  the 

o— 6 


o o 

80  THE    INCARNATION. 


spirit  of  meekness,  faith,  and  love,  though 
in  the  minds  of  Barbarians,  Scythians, 
bond  or  free,  it  is  able  to  make  them 
wise  unto  salvation.  We  must  be  con- 
verted and  become  as  little  cliildren,  in 
order  to  understand  the  gospel.  "  Ex- 
cept a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot 
see  the  kingdom  of  God."  "I  thank 
thee,  O  Father,  Lord  of  Heaven  and 
Earth,  because  thou  hast  hid  these  things 
from  the  wise  and  prudent,  and  hast  re- 
vealed them  unto  babes  ;  even  so,  father, 
for  so  it  seemeth  good  in  thy  sight." 

3.  The  Incarnation,  in  order  to  devel- 
op its  blessedness  and  power,  should  be 
kept  apart  and  aloof  from  the  cum- 
brous theological  technicalities  that  are 
engendered  by  religious  controversy. 
Ministers  are  indeed  set  for  the  defence 
of  the  gospel,  and  it  is  certainly  their 


•O 


THE    INCARNATION.  81 


duty,  and  that  of  the  churches,  to  con- 
tend earnestly  for  the  faith  which  was 
once  delivered  to  the  saints.  But  the 
Apostle  says,  "  beware,  lest  any  man 
spoil  you  through  philosophy  and  vain 
deceit,  after  the  traditions  of  men,  after 
the  rudiments  of  the  world,  and  not 
after  Christ."  Christians  are  never  more 
exposed  to  this  danger  than  when  mak- 
ing the  mysteries  of  Christianity  topics  of 
debate,  and  attempting  to  obviate  all 
objections,  and  clear  away  all  the  diffi- 
culties with  which,  in  our  present  im- 
perfect state,  the  great  truths  of  the  gos- 
pel are  confessedly  encumbered.  Ques- 
tions may  be  asked  by  the  veriest  tyro 
on  divinity,  which  the  soundest  theo- 
logian cannot  answer.  Persons  of  no 
more  knowledge,  or  talent,  or  grace, 
than  the  witch  of  Endor,  may  succeed 


O- 


THE    INCARNATION. 


in  calling  forth  spirits,  which,  when  once 
raised,  no  human  wisdom  or  power  can 
remand  to  the  tomb.  Even  were  it  pos- 
sible to  remove  every  difliculty,  to  an- 
swer every  objection,  which  might  be 
started,  and  put  your  adversary  to  si- 
lence, he  is  not  by  this  process  brought 
into  the  faith  of  the  gospel.  Religion  is 
not  an  opinion,  not  a  judgment  of  the 
intellect, — not  the  wisdom  of  this  world — 
not  the  letter,  but  the  spirit  and  life, — 
Christ  in  you  the  hope  of  glory.  To 
secure  this  blessed  achievement  in  the 
hearts  of  men,  the  method  adopted  by 
inspired  apostles  was  not  to  philosophize 
on  the  doctrine  of  Christ  —  nor  to  an- 
ticipate objections  and  show  their  skill 
and  ingenuity  in  answering  them,  but 
to  proclaim  the  gospel  in  demonstration 
of  the  Spirit  and  of  power.     They  held 


O- 


o 1 

THE    INCARNATIOX.  83 


forlh  the  Word  of  Life  in  £ill  its  clear- 
ness, and  in  all  its  obscurity,  anxious  not 
so  much  to  convert  men  to  their  opin- 
ions as  to  make  them  new  creatures  in 
Christ  Jesus. 

"  0  how  unlike  the  complex  works  of  man 
Heaven's  easy,  artless,  unencumbered  plan  I 
No  meretricious  graces  to  beguile, 
Xo  clustering  ornaments  to  clog  the  pile. 
From  ostentation  as  from  weakness  free, 
It  stands  like  the  cerulean  arch  we  see 
Majestic  in  its  own  simplicity. 
Inscribed  above  the  portal,  from  afar 
Conspicuous  as  the  brightness  of  a  star, 
Legible  only  by  the  light  they  give. 
Stand  the  soul-quickening  words,  Believe 
and  Live. 

4.  The  doctrine  of  the  Incarnation, 
like  the  other  truths  of  our  holy  reli- 
gion, is  seen,  appreciated,  and  enjoyed, 
O — O 


o o 

84  THE    INCARNATION. 


in  proportion  as  the  heart  is  imbued 
with  divine  influence.  A  decline  in 
personal  piety  is  the  dann;er  against 
which  we  should  be  most  habitually  and 
carefully  on  our  guard.  Open  immo- 
ralities and  damnable  heresies  may  be 
seen,  exposed,  and  avoided,  with  com- 
parative facility.  We  may  preach  often, 
and  talk  earnestly,  on  doctrines  that  are 
"  most  surely  believed  among  us." 
There  may  be,  also,  a  commendable  zeal 
and  activity  in  defending  ecclesiastical 
organizations,  and  in  keeping  the  ordi- 
nances as  they  were  delivered  unto  us. 
But  in  the  midst  of  all  this,  there  is 
danger  of  spiritual  declension.  We  are 
Hable  to  become  worldly,  selfish,  and 
careless  of  our  religious  state.  Even 
when  laboring  for  the  good  of  others,  our 
own  hearts  may  be  neglected.     There 


■O 


O ( 

THE    INCARNATIOX.  85 


are  a  thousand  influences  at  work  tend- 
ing to  dampen  the  ardor  of  our  fii-st 
love.  And  if  we  lose  the  simplicity, 
and  freshness,  and  warmth  of  piety  in 
the  heart,  the  beams  of  the  sun  of  right- 
eousness shine  on  us  no  longer.  There 
is  nothing  left  in  the  soul  but  a  cold 
sepulchre  where  the  body  of  the  Lord 
was  laid,  and  where  perhaps  may  be 
seen,  even  now,  the  napkin  and  the 
grave  clothes ;  but  from  which  the  liv- 
ing Redeemer  hath  departed. 

5.  To  appreciate  the  mystery  of  the 
Incarnation  and  feel  its  power,  we  must 
employ  it  for  the  purpose  for  which  it 
was  designed.  Christ  became  incarnate 
to  seek  and  to  save  the  lost ;  no  other 
expedient  was  adequate  to  reclaim  a 
fdllen  world.  In  spite  of  all  the  devices  of 
human   wisdom,   sin,  and  its  attendant 


o- 


o o 

86  THE    INCARNATION. 


evils,  continued  to  abound.  For  ages, 
guilt  and  misery  had  been  rolling  their 
dark  and  turbid  waves  over  the  nations 
of  the  earth.  So  universal  and  deep  is 
the  influence  of  sin  upon  the  heart,  that 
there  was  no  hope  of  human  salvation, 
except  by  the  special  interposition  of 
God.  "  Pass  over  the  isles  of  Chittim 
and  see,"  saith  the  Prophet,  "  and  send 
unto  Kedar,  and  consider  diligently  and 
see  if  there  be  such  a  thing.  Hath  a 
nation  changed  its  gods  ?  "  But,  if  it  is  so 
difficult  for  men  to  change  one  form  of 
false  religion  for  another,  how  much 
more  to  abandon  their  idolatry  alto- 
gether, to  adopt  an  entire  new  system  of 
opinions  and  feelings,  and  cleave  unto 
the  Lord  with  full  purpose  of  heart  ! 

To  accomplish  tliis  work  Christ  assum- 
ed our  nature.     He  descended  from  the 


C- 


THE    INCAKNATION.  87 


heavens  to  destroy  the  works  of  the  dev- 
il, to  make  an  end  of  sin,  and  to  bring  in 
everlasting  righteousness.  It  is  only, 
therefore,  when  carrying  out  this  pur- 
pose of  our  Lord,  that  we  may  expect  to 
see  displayed  the  mighty  energies  of  the 
Incarnation.  The  Word  of  Life  must 
be  employed  to  counteract  and  remove 
the  moral  death  which  now  broods  over 
mankind.  It  must  be  carried,  as  design- 
ed, to  all  nations,  —  to  the  most  degraded 
and  abandoned,  and  with  full  faith  in  its 
quickening  power,  be  allowed  to  breathe 
upon  the  dry  bones  that  they  may  live. 

Preaching  the  gospel  earnestly  and 
faithfully  to  men  that  are  ready  to  per- 
ish, —  preaching  it  not  with  a  view  mere- 
ly to  convince  their  judgment  of  its  truth, 
but  to  affect  an  entire  renovation  in 
their  hearts  and  lives,  —  to  inspire  them 


O- 


88  THE   INCARNATION. 


with  the  love  of  God,  and  to  present 
them  faultless  before  the  presence  of  his 
glory,  with  exceeding  joy,  —  addressing 
it  to  the  victims  of  vice,  —  to  the  dead 
in  trespasses  and  sins,  until  they  shall 
move  quick  and  alive,  and  stand  forth 
confessed  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the 
Lord  God  Almighty  —  this  alone  will 
give  us  an  adequate  perception  of  the 
richness  and  glory  of  its  sacred  truths, 
and  is  withal,  the  only  effectual  means 
of  preserving  them  among  us  in  all  their 
original  purity  and  power.  We  may 
have  creeds,  and  formulas,  and  strong  or- 
ganizations, as  so  many  depositories  of 
the  truth.  But  if  we  only  aim  thus  to 
guard  it  against  heretics,  cavilers,  and 
infidels,  it  will  become  stale  and  hfeless. 
The  coriander  seed  of  heaven  hoarded 
up,  though  ever  so  carefully,  will  perish 
O O 


THE   INCARNATION.  89 

and  moulder  on  our  hands.  It  must  be 
distributed  to  the  hungry  and  the  dying. 
It  descends  from  heaven  to  be  the  food, 
and  nourishment,  and  life  of  Israel.  The 
only  safe  repository  of  the  gospel  is  the 
hearts  of  the  redeemed,  who,  under  the 
influence  of  the  love  of  Christ,  are  fulfill- 
ing the  great  commission  of  their  Lord. 
Let  the  "  true  light "  shine  forth  upon 
the  dark  places  of  the  earth,  that  are 
now  full  of  the  habitations  of  cruelty. 

"  Let  the  poor  benighted  pagan, 
Let  the  rude  barbarian  see, 
That  divine  and  glorious  conquest, 
Once  obtained  on  Calvary." 

Then  we  may  expect  to  behold  the 
surpassing  wonders  of  the  cross.  The 
latent  power  and  liidden  riches  of  the 
gospel  will  be  developed,  the  rays  of  the 


c- 


o 

90  THE    INCARNATION. 


sun  of  righteousness  will  beam  abroad, 
dispelling  the  darkness  which  is  now 
spread  like  a  funeral  pall  over  the  na- 
tions, and  we  shall  behold,  with  a  de- 
lighted vision,  the  glory  of  the  Incar- 
nate Word, — the  glory  as  of  the  only 
begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace  and 
truth.  What  think  you  are  the  views, 
of  the  Incarnation,  entertained  b}'-  the 
missionaries  to  the  Karens  ?  What 
strength  of  faith,  what  peace  and  com- 
fort of  hope,  what  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost 
must  be  awakened  in  their  bosoms  in 
seeing  above  ten  thousand  of  that  de- 
graded people  springing  to  newness  of 
hfe  under  the  preaching  of  the  cross  ? 
Mr.  Abbot  would  as  soon  doubt  his  own 
existence  as  that  in  Christ  dwelleth  all 
the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  bodily. 


-o 


0 

THE    IXCARNATIOX.  91 


Brethren  ix  the  Ministry  :  To 
our  hands  is  committed  a  momentous 
trust.  We  are  put  in  charge  of  the 
riches  of  the  "  mystery  of  Christ." 
Great  and  solemn  is  the  responsibihty 
connected  with  the  station  which  the 
preacher  of  the  gospel  is  called  to  oc- 
cupy. Hence,  the  earnest  counsels  and 
admonitions  that  are  given  him  by  the 
inspired  apostle,  "I  charge  thee,  there- 
fore, before  God  and  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  who  shall  judge  the  quick  and 
the  dead  at  his  appearing  and  king- 
dom, preach  the  word,  be  instant  in 
season  and  out  of  season ;  reprove,  re- 
buke, exhort,  with  all  long-suftering  and 
doctrine.  AVatch  thou  in  all  things, 
endure  afflictions,  do  the  work  of  an 
evangelist,  make  full  proof  of  thy  min- 
istry.    Study  to  show  thyself  approved 


o- 


o 

92  THE    INCARNATION. 


unto  God,  a  workman  that  needeth  not 
to  be  ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the 
word  of  truth.  In  all  things  showing 
thyself  a  pattern  of  good  works,  in 
doctrine,  showing  uneorruptness,  grav- 
ity, sincerity  ;  sound  speech,  that  can- 
not be  condemned,  that  he  that  is  of  the 
contrary  part  may  be  ashamed,  having 
no  evil  thing  to  say  of  you." 

Above  all,  let  us  cherish  the  spirit  of 
piety  in  our  own  souls.  This  is  indis- 
pensable to  our  success  in  the  ministry. 
Neither  learning,  nor  eloquence,  nor 
truth  itself,  without  an  unction  from  the 
Holy  One,  will  ever  work  conviction  in 
the  hearts  of  our  hearers,  or  win  a  soul 
to  Christ.  Sermons,  to  be  effective, 
must  contain  the  fulness  of  the  gospel 
—  must  be  bathed  in  divine  influence, 
and  come  forth  all  warm  and  glowing 


o- 


TUE    INCARNATIOX.  93 

from  lips  touched  with  fire  from  the 
altar  of  God.  Let  us  thus  fulfil  our 
ministry;  and  then,  when  the  Chief 
Shepherd  shall  appear,  we  shall  receive 
a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away. 

Finally,  in  view  of  the  subject  of 
this  Discourse,  we  see  how  great  is  the 
sin  of  rejecting  the  gospel.  It  is  a 
message  of  mercy  announced  to  us  by 
the  Lord  himself.  The  God  of  heaven 
appears  on  earth  to  seek  and  to  save  us. 
O  shall  we  make  light  of  the  celestial 
visitant !  Shall  weak,  sinful,  and  de- 
pendant creatures  turn  ungratefully  and 
coldly  away  from  the  profiered  fulness 
of  the  Redeemer  ?  0,  my  friends,  let 
me  urge  you  to  behold  the  Lamb  of 
God.  Think  of  his  condescension  and 
his  dying  love.  He  died  that  you  might 
live.     Shall  it  be  in  vain  ?     Will  you 


o- 


) o 

94  THE    INCARNATION. 


throw  away  treasures  bought  with  blood? 
Will  you  go  down  to  everlasting  death 
within  sight  of  that  wonderful  sacrifice 
which  was  offered  upon  the  cross  to  save 
you  V  Heaven  forbid  !  Think,  O  think 
of  the  blood  which  was  there  shed,  and, 
with  a  broken  and  contrite  heart,  pray 
as  did  the  dying  penitent,  "  Lord  Jesus, 
remember  me  when  thou  comest  into 
thy  kingdom." 

And  now,  to  the  King  Eternal,  im- 
mortal, invisible,  the  only  wise  God  our 
Saviour,  be  honor  and  glory,  dominion 
and  power  forever.     Amen. 


O- 


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